While it employs a style that is recognizably “a la mode” right now amongst castle builders, Kyrrath Fortress (by Guilds of Heroica fan jaapxaap) differentiates itself by making great use of gorgeous gorgeous dark purple as an accent color – a trick he also used effectively in an earlier creation. Add a roof top shaped like a wizard’s hat, and you’ve got a truly magical stronghold!
Now this I would love to see as an actual building. Sergeant Chipmunk has envisioned and brought to life a beautiful castle creation, with a home beneath a waterfall. The home’s occupants have diverted the water to either side of the home. Now thankfully, it’s a smaller waterfall, cause otherwise I think we’d see more the crushed remains rather than this lovely build.
Build for the Kaliphlin Civil War challenge over the course of four months, this latest breathtaking creation by Guilds of Historica veteran Patrick Massey is called Al Amarj Island. There seems to be something interesting going on in almost every nook and cranny of this diorama. Multiple styles of architecture and vegetation all seem intricately woven together, and the rock archway looks very natural. Outstanding! When can I book my vacation there?
gid617 has brought us this absolutely adorable roadside inn. I love the distressed look and the thatched room goin’ on. I think the simple detailing and landscaping has done wonders.
Gotta admit: this makes me feel old. When I first ended my dark ages, and came back into the hobby, 3739 Blacksmith Shop had been released and the majority of castle themed non-castle buildings were in this tudor, open style. Somewhere along the line, people posted less of them. So this build makes me feel old and nostalgic.
I love the detail on this tower and the half-timber walls of the building. The sparse landscaping is very nice and the stairs leading up to the door are very well executed. But what makes this build really stand out is the fact that it opens!
Building a beautiful castle is much harder than it looks. Building an accessible and believable interior is also much harder than it looks. Doing both of these in the same the build and making it look like the castle doesn’t actually open is something that Isaac S. has mastered.
Patrick Massey just posted a diorama of a gorgeous tan city. I love the splashes of color from the buildings and the texture of the walls. The scene is also packed full of detail and “life”. The longer I look at it, the more intriguing details I find!
Kris Kelvin shows us that not all castles have to be in gray, but black certainly makes things more ominous.
If the color scheme isn’t enough, this edited photo certainly conveys that eerie aura.
The indomitable Mark Erickson has created yet another beautiful scene. I love the detailing on all of these buildings. Mark has done a great job of packing them with believable historical detail, making them all work together while still keeping each building unique. Not an easy job at all. My hat is off to you, sir!
Mihai Marius Mihu calls this piece the “Citadel of the Loud Curse”. If I lived anywhere near that thing, I’d be running for the hills! I don’t know which is more frightening…the gaping red mouth or the silent ash-colored, house-crushing Titan. Regardless, this is a very striking build and, like good art, it draws out a response from its viewers. Mihai is exceptionally skilled at that!
Steven Erickson bred this lovely drake and it is just loaded with character. The smooth lines and expressiveness of the creature really puts this over the top. Also, tying those bionicle pieces so seamlessly into a predominately “system” build takes real skill.
Michał Kaźmierczak spent 7 months to create the iconic gates of Erebor as seen in The Hobbit. The scene shows the meeting between Bard the Bowman and Dwarfs. This colossal build is 5’3″ tall, and you have to see it with the builder to appreciate the scale.
I don’t know which I love more in this Guilds of Historica build by Jacob Nion – the very believable battle-worn siege tower, or the fantastical yet beautifully constructed rhino that’s pulling it. Let’s hope this practice doesn’t lead to rhino’s in GoH becoming as endangered as they are on our planet!
